Jalousie constructions



Nov. 17,1970 sfcLAuDlo 3,540,154:

. V JALOUSIE CONSTRUCTIONS Filed July 17, 1968 .2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG. I

N0v. 17, 1970 s, QLAUDIQ 3,549,154

JALOUSIE CONSTRUCTIONS Filed July 17, 1968 2Sheets-Sheet z FIG. 7

United States Patent 3,540,154 JALOUSIE CONSTRUCTIONS Santiago Claudio,San Juan, Puerto Rico, assignor of one-half to Tropicair ManufacturingCorporation, San

Juan, Puerto Rico Filed July 17, 1968, Ser. No. 753,323 Int. Cl. 1206b7/084 US. CI. 49-91 3 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Improvements areprovided in jalousies or similar structures for window, door or otheropenings, whereby the passage of air or fluids is controlled, andwhereby protection against stormy weather conditions can be assured. Theedges of the vanes or slats in such structures are provided withimproved means for interlocking them and for applying sealing strips orWeatherstripping.

The present invention relates to improvements in jalousie constructions,and particularly to improvements in means for applying sealing strips orWeatherstripping.

Slats in jalousie constructions have, in the past, been found to befrequently ineffective in their operations to seal completely the spacesbetween them particularly against the highly forceful flow of gases andfluids, or for protection against rain and wind during stormyatmospheric conditions.

An object of the present invention is to provide improvements injalousie constructions whereby seepage therethrough may be effectivelyprevented.

A further object is to provide improvements in slats for jalousieconstructions effective in weatherproofing metal, wood, or plasticjalousie windows.

Other objects of the invention will also be apparent from a descriptionof means shown by way of illustration in the accompanying drawings inwhich FIG. 1 is a substantially central vertical sectional view of ajalousie window embodying the invention;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary, enlarged, elevational, sectional view showingvanes or slats in interlocked, closed position;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary, elevational, sectional View of a modified vaneor slat adjacent the upper end or header of a Window;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary, elevational, sectional view of a modified vaneor slat adjacent the lower end or sill of a window;

FIG. 5 is an end view of a modification of a slat or vane;

FIG. 6 is a front elevation showing a Window opening equipped with ajalousie construction having slats of the present invention; and

FIG. 7 is a section on line 77 of FIG. 6 in the direction of the arrows.

Like characters of reference in the several figures de note like partsof the construction. The operation of the structure is included belowwith the description of the parts.

Referring to FIG. 1, a plurality of slats or vanes 1 which are pivotallymounted are shown one above the other in the usual manner in a jalousieor shutter construction. In a window, the slats 1 are mounted between asill 2 and a header 3 and extend across said window from one side jambto the other. The slats 1 are pivoted at 4 and are operated byconventional means including an arm 5 aflixed to each slat 1 and to anoperating bar 6 at 7 which can be lowered and raised to open and closethe louvre and bring the slats 1 in and out of the interlocked position.

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Referring to the enlargement in FIG. 2 which shows slats 1 ininterlocked position as in FIG. 1, a longitudinal edge of a slate has alateral extension along one side in the form of a channel 8. Along anedge of an adjoining slat is a flange extension 9, the free edge 10 ofwhich projects into the channel 8 of the first-mentioned slat 1, asshown, when the slats are in closed position. Upon pivoting the slats toopen position the edge 10 of the flange 9 is withdrawn from the channel8.

A sealing strip 12, of rubber, neoprene, vinyl, or other suitable,flexible, pliable or resilient material, coextensive in length with thelength of a slat, projects laterally into a channel 8 from the innerside 13 of the outer wall 14 of said channel 8. An edge of the sealingstrip 12 is fastened to the wall 14 in the usual manner, as by means ofa retaining groove 15 and a widened portion 16 of the sealing stripmaterial that is held in such groove. The opposite edge 17 of thesealing strip is adapted to engage the near side 18 of the flange 9 ofthe adjoining slat 1 as it moves into interlocking position upon closingthe louvre. Upon so doing, the sealing strip is flexed and it seals thespace between the side 18 of the flange 9 and the side 13 of the channelwall 14. By plastic memory the strip 12 returns to its original shapetending to reach a position at right angles to the wall 14 and acrossthe path of the flange 9, when the louvre is opened.

Integral with a slat 1 and projecting laterally from adjacent the edgethereof from which the flange 9 projects, and in the direction of theadjoining slat 1 crosswise of the adjacent channel 8, is a narrow ledge20 provided with a retaining groove 21 by which a sealing strip 22 witha widened portion 23 is held in place as in the manner of sealing strip12. The ledge 20 extends the length of the slat 1, and the groove 21extends the length of the ledge 20. The sealing strip 22 projectslaterally from the side 24 of the ledge 20 facing the edge of theadjoining slat 1 to which the channel 8 is connected. When the edge 10of the flange 9 touches the wall 25 of the channel 8, the side 24 of theledge 20 is spaced from the outer surface 26 of the adjoining slat 1.The sealing strip 22 is of sufiicient width and is so positioned that itis across the space between the side 24 and the surface 26, and isflexed to provide a seal when the slats are in closed position.

The positions of the slats 1 are interchangeable in a jalousieconstruction, but if desired, the slat 1 adjacent the header 3 of awindow may be modified by omitting the channel '8 shown in FIG. 1 toprovide a slat 27 in this position without a channel 8, as shown in FIG.3. Also, if desired, the slat 1 adjacent the sill 2 of a window may bemodified by omitting the ledge 20 shown in FIG. 1 to provide a slat 28in this position without a ledge 20, as shown in FIG. 4.

To seal the space between the top slat 1 in FIG. 1, or the slat 27 inFIG. 3, and the header 3 of a Window, a sealing strip 29 extending inlength across the width of the window, projects laterally from the innerside 30 of the front Wall 31 of the header 3 to the outer side of theslat 1 (FIG. 1) or of the slat 27 (FIG. 3). The sealing strip 29 is heldin place by a retaining groove 32.

To seal the space between the bottom slat 1 in FIG. 1, or the slat 28 inFIG. 4, and the sill 2, a sealing strip 33 extending in length acrossthe width of the window, projects laterally from the lower side 34 ofthe sill 2 adjacent the front edge thereof to the inner side 35 of theflange 9 of slat 1 (FIG. 1) or of slat 28 (FIG. 4). The sealing strip 33is held in place by a retaining groove 36.

The sealing strips 29 (FIGS. 1 and 3) are flexed by and are pressedagainst the outer surface of the top slat 1 and slat 27 as these slatsare moved into closed position. The sealing strips 33 (FIGS. 1 and 4)are flexed 3 by and are pressed against the inner side 35 ofthe flange 9on the bottom slat 1 (FIG. 1) and on slat 28 (FIG. 4) as these slats aremoved into closed position.

As shown in FIG. 5, a modified slat 38 is formed with merely a flange39' at one edge, corresponding to the flange 9 on slat 1, and with anextension on the opposite edge providing a channel 40 corresponding tothe channel 8. The Weatherstripping retaining grooves 41 and 42 may beattached to the slat 38 in separate elements 43 and 44 respectively. Theelement 43 is so attached to the slat 38 that the groove 41 ispositioned along the length of the slat 38 adjacent the angle formed bythe flange 39 and the main portion of the slat, and is so positionedthat a Weatherstrip 45 held by the groove 41 projects sidewise therefromtoward the outer surface of an adjacent slat (not shown) and is flexedthereby and held tightly against it when the slats are in closedposition. The element 44 is so attached to the slat 38 that the groove42 is positioned along the length of the slat 38 adjacent the free edge46 of the outer wall 47 of the channel 40, and so that a Weatherstrip 48held by the groove 42 projects sidewise therefrom toward the innersurface of an adjacent slat (not shown) and is flexed thereby and heldtightly against said surface when the slats are in closed position.

The spaces between the jambs 49 and 50 of a window opening 51 (FIGS. 6and 7) and the outer ends of the slats in the jalousie constructiondescribed hereinabove,

may be sealed by means and in a manner well known in the art, or byother means. Weatherstrips 52 and 53, for instance, projecting sidewisefrom grooves 54 and 55 respectively, in the jambs 49 and 50respectively, toward the ends of the slats, and extending verticallyfrom the sill 2 to the header 3 of the window, are flexed by the slats 1and are brought tightly against them whereby the spaces between thejalousie and the jambs are sealed.

What is claimed is: v

1. A jalousie construction having a plurality of pivotally mounted slatsand means for eflecting opening and closing movement of said slats, alongitudinal edge of a slat is said jalousie construction having alateral extension forming a relatively deep and relatively wide channelalong a side of said slat, and an edge of an adjacent slat having alateral extension forming a flange for insertion into said channel whenthe slats are pivoted into closed position, the said channel being widerthan the thickness of the said flange, the said flange being in spacedrelation to a wall of said channel thereby providing a space between thesaid flange and said wall; and means for sealing the jalousieconstruction between the slats when in closed position, the said sealingmeans consisting of a flexible weather strip extending across the saidspace and supported in space relation to the bottom of the said channelwhen said slat is in closed position, and said weather strip having anunattached edge whereby a slat is withdrawn from contact with the saidedge when the slat is pivoted to open position.

2. A jalousie construction having a plurality of pivotally mounted slatsand means for effecting opening and tension forming a relatively deepand relatively wide channel along a side of said slat, and an edge of anadjecent slat having a lateral extension forming a flange for insertioninto said channel when the slats are pivoted into closed position; thesaid channel being wider than the thickness of the said flange, the saidflange having its sides in spaced relation to the opposing Walls of saidchannel when said flange is inserted in said channel thereby providing aspace on each side of the said flange; and means for sealing thejalousie construction between the slats when in closed position, thesaid sealing means consisting of a flexible weather strip extendingthroughout the length of the channel and across the space on one side ofsaid flange and a flexible weather strip extending throughout the lengthof said channel and across the space on the other side of said flange,the said Weatherstrips when said slats are in closed positionbeingsupported in spaced relation to the bottom of the channel and having anunattached edge whereby a slat is withdrawn from contact with said edgewhen the slat is pivoted to open position.

3. A slat for pivotal mounting in a jalousie construction, the said slathaving a relatively deep and relatively wide channel extending thelength of said slat at one edge and said slat having a flange extendingthe length thereof at the opposite edge thereof, the said channel beingpositioned and adapted to receive the edge of the flange on a contiguousslat of similar form when pivoted to closed position, and saidfirst-named flange being positioned and adapted to be inserted into thechannel on a contiguous slat of similar form when pivoted to closedposition, whereby the contiguous slats are adapted to be interlocked andthe side s-of a flange extension of a slat in closed position beingadapted to be in spaced relation to the opposing walls of a channel inwhich a said flange is inserted; a flexible Weatherstrip having one edgethereof attached to the flange side of the first-named slat for sealingthe space between the closing movement of said slats, a longitudinaledge of a slat in said jalousie construction having a lateral exflangeand the adjacent slat when the slats are in closed position, and aWeatherstrip having one edge thereof attached to the inner side of theouter wall of the channel on the channel side of said first-named slatfor sealing the space'between said outer wall and the flange on the slatadjacent said wall, the said weatherstrippings being supported in spacedrelation to the bottoms of the respective channels when said slats areclosed.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,622,672 12/1952 Thomas 4991 X2,654,921 10/ 1953 Blanchard 49371 2,945,267 7/1960 Tracy 49-92 X3,082,679 3/1963 Young et a1. 49 92 3,290,823 12/1966 Okumoto 236 XDAVID J. WILLIAMOWSKY, Primary Examiner P. C. KANNAN, Assistant ExaminerUS. 01. X.R. 49-371; 160-236

